Soybean Meal Buying Guide: 44% vs 48% Protein, Price Factors and Bulk Supply

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On October 5, 2026

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Quick answer: Soybean meal is sold mainly as 44% protein (with hulls) or 48% Hi-Pro (dehulled). Price depends on the global soybean market, protein grade, freight and order size. When buying, check protein, moisture (12% max), fibre and urease activity, which shows the meal was heated enough to destroy anti-nutritional factors.

Updated October 2026 · NDRG Kokal Enterprise, Sarawak, Malaysia

Key facts

Common grades	44% (conventional) and 48% Hi-Pro
Moisture	12% max
Urease activity	About 0.05–0.3 ΔpH (properly toasted)
Main price driver	Global soybean and soy meal futures
Packing	50 kg bags or bulk

44% vs 48% soybean meal

Feature	44% soybean meal	48% Hi-Pro
Hulls	Included	Removed
Crude protein	About 44%	About 47–49%
Crude fibre	About 6–7%	About 3–4%
Best for	Cattle, layers, cost-sensitive diets	Broilers, pigs, aqua feed
Price	Lower	Higher

What affects soybean meal price?

Global markets: soybean harvests in Brazil, Argentina and the US and soy meal futures set the base price.
Protein grade: Hi-Pro costs more per tonne but may be cheaper per unit of protein.
Freight and currency: shipping costs and the ringgit–dollar rate.
Order size: bulk orders reduce cost per kilogram.

Quality checks

Protein and moisture on the certificate of analysis.
Urease activity: too high means under-cooked (anti-nutrients remain); very low with poor protein solubility can mean over-cooked.
Colour and smell: light tan to brown, nutty, no burnt or mouldy smell.
No foreign matter or caking.

Compare it with marine protein in our fish meal vs soybean meal guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 44% and 48% soybean meal?

48% Hi-Pro soybean meal is made from dehulled soybeans, so it has more protein and less fibre than 44% meal.

What affects soybean meal prices?

Global soybean harvests and futures, protein grade, freight, exchange rates and order volume.

What is urease activity in soybean meal?

A test that shows whether the meal was heated enough to destroy anti-nutritional factors such as trypsin inhibitors.

Buy soybean meal in bulk

Buy in bulk: request a wholesale quote from NDRG Kokal Enterprise, Siburan, Sarawak. Call or WhatsApp +60 13-739 1922 or email info@ndrgkokalenterprise.com.

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